Surrounded by cheering classmates, families, and faculty, around 700 new students entered Riverside Church for the college’s annual Convocation on Aug. 27, marking the beginning of their college journey as Barnard College’s Class of 2029, and their official welcome into the Barnard community.
First-year students donned green shirts – a nod to their official class color – while being greeted by Barnard’s ninth President, Laura Ann Rosenbury.
“Please celebrate yourselves, celebrate your students, and celebrate this remarkable achievement: making it to one of the most selective colleges in the nation and the best women’s college in the world,” Rosenbury said. “Each and every one of your students is here for a reason. Each of them is here because they belong. Thank you – parents, families and friends – for your trust in us. We will be your partners every step of the way.”
While the Class of 2029 gathered for its first class photo at Barnard’s New Student Orientation Program, first-year student Eva Dec-Prat took a moment to process what it feels like to be standing with this group of students.
“It’s great to be part of a group of so many amazing women,” she said. “I went to an all girls high school so I feel like I really understand the value and support system that a group of women have together.”
Camila Hernandez Arellano ‘29 said she’s most looking forward to joining clubs and experiencing life at a women’s college.
“I didn’t go to an all women’s high school so I’m excited for that because I definitely value my female friendships so I’m excited for an academic space for that,” she said.
Who is the Class of 2029?
In all, there are 705 first-year students in the Barnard Class of 2029. They were carefully selected from thousands of applications – putting the acceptance rate to about 10%, underscoring its place as one of the most selective colleges in the country. Sixteen percent of students in this class are the first in their families to attend a four-year college.
This class is from all corners of the world including: 41 states as well as Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., and 29 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, and more.
Forty-seven percent of the class comes to Barnard from public schools. Students in this class speak 59 different languages.
Students in this class are also enrolling in Barnard College’s double degree program with the Jewish Theological Seminary, located just up the street from campus on 122nd Street.
Accomplished Before Day One
Before ever arriving on campus, these students built impressive records of leadership and service. More than 350 students played on varsity or JV athletic teams, and another 138 competed in club sports, including soccer, volleyball, tennis, cross-country, wrestling, track, basketball, and badminton, cheer and step. Fourteen first-years and two transfers will compete in athletics in the unique Barnard-Columbia athletic consortium.
Beyond athletics, collectively, members of the Class of 2029 held more than 6,000 jobs, volunteer roles and research positions before arriving at Barnard. They served as caregivers, tutors, lifeguards, poll workers, dog walkers, and farm hands, bringing with them a wealth of experience that will help inform their time on campus. Eighteen students took a gap year, and 48 participated in one of Barnard’s pre-college programs.
Also joining campus for the first semester of this academic year are students visiting from colleges including: Spelman College, Sciences Po in France, The University of New South Wales, and The University of Edinburgh.
“You made it, you earned it,” Jennifer Fondiller, Vice President for Enrollment and External Affairs, told students as they gathered at convocation. “We can’t wait to watch you take off here.”
Building a Close-Knit Community
Starting this year, first-year students will take part in two new programs designed to enhance their first-year experience: the Foundations curriculum and First-Year Focus.
Through Foundations, new students will take all of their first year classes on campus, strengthening their sense of community and helping students make the transition to college and create strong ties with their peers.
Students will also take part in programming through First Year Focus, designed as a complement to students’ academic experiences, with a goal of helping first-year students find their purpose, build community, and navigate complex situations, all of which are important to the college experience.
First-Year Focus will gather students in small groups to help build relationships and make connections. Whenever possible, groups will share a pre-major adviser, so that they have a point of contact for academic questions and will also have a First-Year Ambassador who can be a point of contact for non-academic questions.
Provost and Dean of the Faculty Rebecca Walkowitz encouraged the Class of 2029 to move through their years at Barnard with the kind of optimism that acknowledges setbacks, conflicts, and even real challenges but also finds space for opportunities, joy, intellectual growth, and the unexpected future.
“You’re here because you’re talented, because you’re determined, and because you want to lead,” Walkowitz said. “But you’re also here to pause, to transform, to have fun, and to make friends who will stay with you for life. This is a precious experience, these four years, and they will go quickly. There should always be time for kindness, for the class you don’t need but looks kind of interesting, for the sport you won’t crush but enjoy playing, and for becoming someone new.”